Attachment for printing-frames.



F. J. voN GUNTEN.

ATTACHMENT T0 PRINTING FRAMES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9|' 1916.

Paented Dec. 25, 191'?.

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T E E H s a F. J. VON GUNTEN. ATTACHMENT T0 PRINTING FRAMES.

APPLICATION FJLED MAR. 9, 1916.

WITNESFES WGNTQR F. I. VON GUNTEN.

ATTACHMENT T0 PRINTING FRAMES.

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3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR WITNESSES UNITED ,STATES PATENT ormoni. *l

FREDERICK JOHN VON GUN-TEN, -OF =WINNIPEG, `IMAlll'lOIBA., CANADA.

'ATTACHMENT Y.'J() PRINTING-FRAMES.

vspecifwa'ion of Lettersratent. Patented1])ec..2`5, a1917.

Application filedv March 9, 1916.` SeriaLNo. 83,993.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known thatl, FREDnRioK JOI-In VON GUNTEN, of the city of Winnipeg, 1n the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new and useful 'Improvements in Attachments to Printing-Frames, of which the following is the specification.

The invention relates to improvements ,in attachments to printing frames, and the principal object of the invention is to vprovide a device associated with a printing frame which can be timed or set to automatically close at the set time and inclosing eX- clude light fromthe print in the frame and by so doing be enabled to select and give any desired exposure of the print to the'light. A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, easily assembledand applied device for the above purpose. A ystill further object of the invention is, while providing a device ofthe above nature, to construct it, such that when once set it cannotlbe tampered with to effect the setting.

lVith the above objects in view the invention consists essentially vin a printing frame having a side boX like extension, a sliding shutter designedto-be closed when in the frame above the print and opened when slid within the box, a clock like mechanism zfor operating the shutter and means associated with the clock mechanism for setting and timing the clock mechanism4 to close the shutter upon the termination of a selected period of time, the parts being arranged and constructed as hereinafter more particularly described and later pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l represents a front view of my invention with the shutter closed.

Fig. 2 represents a rear View thereof.

Fig. 3 represents a side view of it.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal lsectional vievv through the frame, the section beingtaken in the plane denoted by the line X-X Fig. l. i

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the frame, the section being taken in the plane denoted by the line Y-'Y Fig. l.

Fig. G is a large detailed plan view vof the clock workswith my applied shutter controlf Vling mechanisms thereon, 'such parts being Shown in the position occupied when the shutteris closed.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 6 as they appear Whentheshutter arm is in thepositionwhich it occupies when the shutter is open and locked in the open position. l

Fig. 8 is a plan View lof the partsshown in the latter two'figures as they appear when the shutter arm Voccupies -an `,open position but just at theinstant themechanismhas been releasedor setV off toclose the shutter.

Fig. 9 isa plan viewof the interior parts of the. clock mechanism, such parts `being-eX- posed upontheremoval o f the top plate 'and having the lpositions which they occupyV when the device gis Set in the position as shown in Fig. `7 of the drawings.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the Ydevice ais shown in Fig.7

Fig. ..11 isa vertical sectional view through the main spindle and associated parts, show ing the friction disksthereon FigulQ isa detailed plan view of thecombination locking and release lever.

F ig. 13 isa vertical sectional viewthrough the tip of the vlatter leverthe section being taken intheplane denoted bythe line Z-:Z Fig. .12.

Fig. 14 is -a detailedihorizontal sectional View through one of the vposts at the point wherethe vcatch bar enters it.

In the drawings like lcharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

Heretofore, in connection Vwith photography Work, the general practice has been, when ,making photographic prints ,from

negatives by exposure to the sun or other source of light, to .time the exposure by means of a'watch or similar timing appliance. ,I have foundthatthis-practice is not a satisfactory oneasit requires aV great deal of attentiOnonthepart of the one printing andeven With good attention there is considerable variationto be found in the prints when developed. Further, one very often, in making a print1nay forget it fora short time with Vthe result :that it is spoiled. VVheremy device isused I ,Eind-that one can makeany numberrof exposuresand owing to the preciseness with which the invention works all the prints made will be identical, and further, there is no loss of material through over exposure, as once the device is set it will operate itself to close and shut off the light.

Referring now to the drawings;

1 represents a substantially rectangular printing frame comprising side members 2 and 3 and end members -1 and v The inner faces of the side and end members are provided with inwardly directed more or less V-shaped projections 6 which form a ledge against which the ordinary negative 7 rests, the negative and the adjacent printing paper 8 being retained against the ledge by a removable back 9 held in position by the action of a centrally pivoted metallic spring strip 10, the ends of which are arranged to pass behind retaining pins 11 and 12 secured to the sides of the frame. End notches 13 and 141 are provided so that theiback can be readily picked out of the frame after an exposure has been made.

At this point it is to be observed that the back is av solid one, that is, it is not hinged so that it can be turned back to expose the print, as in the ordinary printing frame. Such a back, however, could be used if desired, although with this invention it is not considered necessary that one require access Vto the print while the same is ybeing' exposed.

At the side of the printing frame proper 1 locate a box like extension 15 which is formed by project-ing the side members 2 and 3 of the frame, inserting an end member 16 between the side pieces and then closing in the -substantially rectangular open frame so formed by applying top and bottom closure boards 17 and 13.' The extension so provided is a box like one'and is actually an integral part of the printing frame, and it provides a housing for a clock like operating device 'which controls the shutter, itself designed to be projected at a selected time from the box and over the print contained in the frame.

19 is a fiat rectangular shutter which has the upper and lower edges thereof slidably mounted in opposing, horizontally disposed channels or guides 20 and 21 formed in the inner faces-of the side members 2 and 3 of the'frame. The channels pass the full length of the side members, that is to say, they appear both in the frame 1 and in the exy .plied on the extension adjacent the thumb tension 15 so that the shutter can be slid freely either into the frame or intov the extension. The channels are arranged so that the shutter, in sliding, will just pass over the upper face of the frame member.

The member 4 of the frame is supplied on the inner side with a receivingv channel 22 which is continuous with the channels 2O and 21 and is designed to receive the advancing edge of the shutter. The shutter and channels are all arranged so that when the shutter is thrown to the closed position with the advancing edge thereof in the channel 22 it closes over the upper face of the negative. The top and bottom edges of the shutter are fitted with metallic upper and lower channel plates 23 so that there will be practically no wear of the shutter in the channels and so that'it will slide at all times freely. In the open position the shutter is arranged to pass completely in under the board 17 with Athe advanced edge immediately above the upper face of the side member 5 of the frame.

. Hthin the box like extension I locate what might be termed a clock mechanism whichv is supplied with additional controlling parts specially adapting it for my purpose. This mechanism is now described.

2l and 25 are upper and lower superimposed spaced body plates connected to each other by inserted posts 26. The `bottom plate is fastened permanently within the box like extension by means of screws 27 screwed into the bottom 18 of the extension and passing through suitable projecting tongues 28 formed as part of the plate.

. The top plate is supplied with a pair of centrally disposed, spaced extending legs 29 and 30 which form between them a guiding slot 31 for a roller later described.

Between the plates I mount the usual clock spindles, gears, pinions and escapement, which parts I will not herein describe in detail as they are of ordinary construe tion and form no part of my invention only in so far that I utilize the clock mechanism to control and operate my shutter.

32 represents the winding spindle of the clock mechanism, 33 the main spring, 34 the main gear wheel, 35 and 36 the usual train of gears and pinions operated by the main gear, 37 the ordinary escape wheel, 38 the anchor, 39 the balance wheel and 40 the hair spring. Once the spring 33 is wound the gears rotate in the usual way.

The main spindle 32 of the clock mechanism is projected through the bottom 13 of the extension 15 and terminates in a thumb or finger piece 11. This arrangement allows the clock mechanism to be wound from the exterior of the frame. In order that no confusion may arise between this winding stem and the setting finger later referred to, I have placed the word wind on a plate appiece (see Fig. 2).

The gear 35 is utilized to drive an attachment which I supply to control the timing of the release of the shutter. This is now described.

. 42 is a setting spindle having the lower end thereof suitably mounted in the bottom plate 25 and the upper end thereof cored out as indicated at 43 and receiving, slidably,

the lower end of a controlling spindle 44 the upper end of which is received slidably within the upper plate 24 and protrudes through the same. The setting spindle 42 is projected thro ugh the plate 25 and is fitted with a setting finger or pointer 45 which is arranged to operate over a graduated dial 45 countersunk in the under surface ofthe board 18. The dial is graduated to represent seconds and minutes, the minutes being indicated, (see Fig. 2) by the applied characters O, 1, 2, 8, 4 and 5 which actually represent one, two, three, four and five minutes, and intermediate graduations, there being twelve between each minute graduation, which represent each ve seconds.

To the spindle 42 I secure permanently a lower gear wheel 46 and on it I mount rotatably an upper gear wheel 47 and the lower member 48 of a friction clutch. The gear wheel 47 meshes continuously with the gear wheel 35 of the clock train.

The spindle 44 carries the upper member 49 of a friction clutch which is disposed directly opposite the member 48 and it is fitted further with a controlling disk 50 having a notch 51 formed in the periphery thereof. The spindle is held normally up by the action of a coiled spring 52 having the inner end thereof attached permanently to the spindle and the outer end projecting and fastened to an upstanding bracket 53 secured to the upper face of the gear wheel 46.

From the above construction it will be obvi ous that if the clutch members be engaged by the depression of the controlling spindle, then the position of the notch can be varied by turning the pointer.

54 is a catch bar pivotally secured as indicated at 55 to the bottom plate 25 and having the forward end thereof provided with a dog 56 designed to engage with the teeth of the wheel 46, and the rear end thereof normally extending within a cross cut or notch 57 provided in an upstanding post 58 extending between the plates 24 and 25. A spring 59 is supplied to hold the rear end of the bar against the post. This bar is utilized to lock the gear 46 at a proper interval as later enlarged upon. 60 is a striker bar permanently secured to the upper face of the clutch member 49 and normally engaging with the bracket 53 and arranged to retain the controlling disk normally in a set position under the turning action of the coiled spring 52.

61 is a main lever pivotally secured by means of a short stud and screw 62 to the upper face of the plate 24 and located more or less centrally thereof.

Directly beneath the lever and secured thereto is a driving gear 63 which driving gear meshes with a pair of partial gears 64 and 65, the gear 65 being connected pivotally on a stud 66 secured to the plate While the gear 64 is secured permanently to the upper end of the upstanding post 58 which is rotatably mounted in the top and bottom plates.

67 is a spring coiled around the post 58 and having one end permanently fastened to the post and the opposite end projected and passed to the inner side of the adjacent post 26. This spring is provided so that normally it has a tendency to turn the partial pinion 64 in the direction indicated by the applied arrow.

The upper end of the lever 61 is designed to operate between two stops 68 and 68 secured to the upper face of the top plate 24.

69 is a shutter controlling lever pivotally secured centrally at 70 to the lower end of the main lever and having one end thereof pivotally fastened by means of a screw 71 to the edge of the shutter and the other end provided with a roller 7 3 arranged to operate within the slot 31. A weight 74 is attached to the upper end of the main lever.

The partial gear 65 is supplied with an outstanding arm 65 to which I have connectedv a rod 75 which projects through the side member 3 of the frame, and is fitted with a push button 76.

From the above it is obvious that owing to the action of the spring the main lever will have a normal position over against the stop 68 with the result that the shutter controlling lever will naturally hold the shutter in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of the dra-wings, that is, closed, and the arm 65 will hold the push button 76 in its eX- tended position. Further, it will be observed that one by pressing the push button in from the position in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7, will effect the rotation of the gear 63 and consequently the swinging of the main lever to the reverse position, that is, over against the stop 68 which action results in the swinging 0f the lever controlling arm to the left and thereby effects the opening of the shutter.

77 is a. combined locking and release lever pivotally secured by means of a pin 78 to the upper face of the plate 24. This lever is of the peculiar shape shown best in Fig. 12, where it will be noticed it is supplied with an upstanding trip 77 a centrally disposed catch 7 72, a catch pin 7 7X and has the lower end thereof turned laterally and inwardly and with its extremity channeled on the underside longitudinally as at 77 3 and the channel terminating in an inclined end 77 o. The arrangement of this latter lever, when mounted on the pin, is such that the channel 773 receives the upper end of the controlling spindle 44 which, as hereinbefore stated, projects slidably through the plate. The design of the channel is such that upon the lower end of the said lever being swung inwardly the inclined end of the i channel will force the controlling spindle downwardly sutliciently far to engage the friction clutch members.

79 is a catch lever pivotally secured at 79 to the upper face of the plate 24, which lever has the inner end formed to present a pair of inwardly projecting, spaced jaws 7 9X and the outer end extending so as to coperate with the catch 7 72 in a manner later described. The of the catch lever are arranged to receive a pin 80 located on the lower end of the main lever (il.

8l is a setting lever pivotally secured by means of a pin 82 to the upper face of the top plate and between the gear 63 and the lever 77. r1`he setting lever is fitted beneath the pivot pin with an outstanding shoulder 8l', at the upper end above the pin with a sector 81X and at the lower end with a setting pin 812, this latter pin actually proj ecting through an opening 83 formed in the plate and normally riding on the periphery of the controlling disk 50.

84 is an escape lever pivotally mounted on the pin 78 above the lever 77 and having the lower end thereof, which projects beyond the pin7 connected to the lever 77 by means of a spiral spring 85, and the upper end thereof arched inwardly toward the partial pinion ('34 with which it engages in the operation of the device. rl-he said lever is litted with an inwardly extending catch 84 and an outwardly extending catch 84X, the catch 84 cooperating with the sector 8lX while the catch 84X cooperates with the pin 77 The lever S4 is connected with the lever 81 by means of an inserted spiral spring 85.

86 is a resetting, more or less L-shaped lever, pivotally secured to the upper face of the plate 24 by means of a pin 86 and having the free end thereof passing beneath the lever' 84 and over toward the shoulder of the lever 81 with which it is designed to engage. The end of the resetting lever is tapered complementary to the engaging face of the shoulder and it is held normally against the shoulder' by the action of a coiled spring 87 connecting the inner end of said lever with the outer end of the lever 7 9, The trip 7 7 of the lever 77 is designed to pass upwardly and engage with the resetting lever at the bend therein.

The lower end of the lever 77 is held in sliding relation to the face of the plate by a guide pin 8S secured to the plate and having an enlarged head overhanging the end of the lever.

rlhe above completes the description of the parts, but in order that the invention may be better understood 1 will now describe the manner in which it is used and operated, assuming that the shutter is normally closed, that the clock mechanism has been wound by the turning of the thumb piece 4l and that the negative and printing paper have been inserted in their proper position in the frame and the back thereof has been closed.

The photographer first concludes as to the time which he considers proper for the eX- posure of the negative. Having concluded to this he then sets the pointer at the graduation indicating that time. By setting the pointer he causes the gear 46 to turn and as it turns it carries with it the bracket 53.

As the bracket swings the striker bar turns with the bracket for the reason thatthe spring 52 is tied to the bracket and the controlling spindle 4.4. The result isthat both the top member of the clutchr as well as the controlling wheel are turned in whatever direction the pointer is turned. 1n turning the pointer fromthe Zero mark in a clockwise direction one increases the distance between the notch 5l and the pin 812. (1n F ig. 2 of the drawings the set time is shown as thirty seconds). He then places the complete frame in the location where it is to be exposed and then presses the button 7 6 full in, which act-ion effects, through the partial gear and the gear 63, the rotation of the main lever 28 and the consequent opening of the shutter through the lever 69. The instant the shutter is opened the clock mechanism starts to operate the controlling disk to effect, in the selected or set interval of time, the release and closing of the shutter. This action is now eX- plained, it being borne in mind that the initial swinging over of the main lever effects the tightening of the spring 67.

As the main lever is swung over the pin passes toward the jaws of the catch lever and by engagement with the jaws causes the inner end of the lever to be swung upwardly and the outer end to be swung downwardly to escape from the catch 772. VThe instant this occurs the catch 772 passes, owing to the action of the spring 85, to the upper side of the lever, (see Fig. 7 and locks the catch lever so that the pin 80 cannot escape out from between the jaws. This action locks the main lever in the position shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, or in other words7 the shutter is locked open. Coincident with the locking of the catch lever the inturned end of the lever 77, in the turning of said lever, effects the down pushing of the controlling spindle 44 and the engaging of the clutch members with the result that the controlling disk is caused to rotate with the clock train. Further, in the inward swinging of the lower end of the lever 77 under the action of the spring 85, an outward swing of the trip 77 is effected and this trip, by engagement with the resetting lever, elfects the raising of the resetting lever from the shoulder as well as an `increased tension inthe spring 87. Upon the controlling disk being compelled to rotate through the engagement ot the clutch members, the notch therein, which was advanced in respect to the pin 812 in the setting of the pointer, is now caused to travel toward the pin by the clock mechanism. The time which it takes to travel to the notch is the predetermined or set time for the exposure of t-he print in the frame, as the instant the pin 812 reaches the notch the spring 85 operates to swing the lever 81 inwardly and place the pin into the base of the notch and the swinging of the lever so permitted serves to set ott1 parts which release the main lever. Assuming then that the controlling disk has traveled to allow the pin 8l2 to escape into the notch, it will be apparent that as the lower end of the setting lever swings in the sector at the upper end will swing away from the catch 8d and by so doing will release the escape lever which will swing in until it strikes the hub of the partial gear 64. As it swings in the catch 84X strikes the catch pin 7 7 X and causes the lower end of the lever 77 to be swung to the lett, which swinging action causes the catch 772 to pass away from the catch lever, the inclined end 77o of the groove to pass away from the controlling spindle and the trip 77 to swing inwardly from the resetting lever. The movements just outlined etlect the release of the pin 8() from the jaws of the catch lever, the disengagement ot the clutch members and the engagement of the inner end of the resetting lever with the shoulder. Ihe instant the pin 8O is released the main lever flies back under the action of the spring 67 to regain its initial position and effect the closing ot the shutter through the lever 69. Coincident with the turning of the lever under the action of its spring, the inturned or upper end ot' the escape lever 84 is caused to rotate over the boss of the gear 64C and then to .be caught by the oncoming side 64 thereof (see F ig. 8), with the result that it is swung outwardly or to the lett suttciently far to permit the sector 81 to clear the catch 84, at which time the spring 87 operates through the resetting lever 86 and the shoulder 81 to swing the lower end ot' the setting lever out to the original position with the pin thereof tree of the notch of the controlling disk.

This-completes the operation, as the parts are reset the instant the shutter has reached the initial or closed position.

It might be mentioned that the catch lever is swung back to its initial position by the pin 80 as the said pin passes out from between the jaws, and it is retained in this initial position by the catch 772 as soon as the lever 77 swings inwardly when resetting.

I have hereinbetore intimated that the parts are arranged, such that it is impossible to tamper with the pointer once it has been set and the shutter has been initially opened. To explain this I might mention that in the opening of the shutter the post 58 is turned so that the catch bar 54 is caused to pass, from riding on the circumference of the post, into a position in the notch 52, with the result that the dog 56 is thrown into engagement with the teeth of the gear i6 by the action of the spring 59. Once the dog enters the teeth the pointer cannot be turned, as the gear cannot be rotated. rfhis, dog is automatically released from the gear when the shutter is returned to the closed position, as in closing the post rotates and effects the release of the dog from the gear.

IVhat I claim as my invention is 1. In combination in a device ot the class described including a shutter, combined time controlled and manual means for operating the shutter including a gear, a lever having a pivot along the axis of rotation of the gear, another lever pivoted to the shutter pivotallj)T connected to one end of said first lever, a gear segment meshing with the said gear, and a hand operated push rod for rotating said segment.

2. The combination with a printing frame and a print within the frame, of an open locked shutter associated with the Jfra-me and designed to pass in front of the print to exclude light therefrom and selective time controlled means for releasing the shatter close over the print to exclude light therefrom, including a lever pivoted on said shutter and a lever carried and rotated by the time means pivoted to the first lever.

3. In combination, a clock like mechanism and a shutter controlling mechanism associated with the clock mechanism and designed to lock the shutter in the open position and to release the shutter to close at a selective interval of time after locking, the said time interval being controlled by the movement ot the clock in its movement, the clock mechanism being provided with a slot, a lever pivoted to the shutter, a roller on said lever operating in the slot, and a lever rotated by the clock mechanism operable upon the tirst lever to open and close the shutter.

Signed at Winnipeg this 31st day of December 1915.

FREDERICK JOHN VON GUNTEN.

In the presence of GERALD S. RoxBUnGH, S. SIBERT.

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

